On World Water Day, Mario Urrea, president of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation, discusses the public hydraulic domain and the state of the Segura basin in Vega Baja, highlighting efforts to bring OHS management closer to residents.
Additionally, the organization aligns with Open Management Week, scheduling a day when its powers are active. The latest hydrological data will be shared, and talks will cover river and coastal restoration.
Water is essential for life. What part does desalination play in keeping resources steady in the basin?
Desalination is primarily a supplementary resource that helps stabilize supply. In the most recent hydrological year, 129 cubic hectometers were produced by ACUAMED plants (Águilas, Torrevieja, and Valdelentisco), while MCT plants (Alicante I and II, San Pedro I and II) produced 57.4 cubic hectometers. This illustrates the need for alternative sources beyond the ATS (Tajo-Segura Aqueduct) and the importance of gradually replacing overdrawn groundwater with renewable, sustainable options.
Is desalination a future bet to protect the basin’s reserves?
Yes. The plan is to secure water for the long term without pivoting on short-term criteria. Therefore, the Confederation is actively deploying different seawater desalination facilities (IDAM) within the distribution network, including post-transfer Tajo-Segura channels.
This initiative stands among the most productive projects, with expansion of desalination plants run by ACUAMED and the integration of photovoltaic parks with these plants to offer affordable rates. The project carries a total investment of about 700 million euros, with government subsidies covering up to ten years if the works reach completion.
Does this forward-looking plan include purified water?
CHS is indeed tasked with finding new options for uses within the Hydraulic Public Space (DPH). Adequate treatment of urban wastewater is a primary objective pursued by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Democratic Challenge (MITECO).
The Segura basin has done its homework on purification and reuse due to resource scarcity and a constrained system. It stands as a national benchmark in reused water, with about 144 cubic hectometers of the total 400 hm reused nationwide—almost 95%—and nearly 95% of treated water in the Region of Murcia being reused. Similar outcomes are observed in Alicante.
This commitment is reflected in investments to reduce temporal pollution under the Segura Hydrological Plan for 2022-2027, with a budget of 592 million euros; 315 million of those euros are dedicated to this phase, nearly double the 2015-21 plan. Partnering with the Generalitat Valenciana, this demonstrates a strong pledge to advance this direction and ensure wastewater treatment coverage across Alicante province.
Is there a push to improve the digitization of CHS units to support management?
Certainly. Beyond basic administration, digitalization has become a key tool for detecting rainfall and runoff spikes, enabling quicker responses during flood events.
Such technology marks a meaningful advance in the ability to monitor and react to various scenarios. CHS benefits from one of the most expansive meter networks in southeast Spain, enabling real-time awareness of rainfall across catchment areas and the streets they intersect, along with the associated infrastructure.
Progress continues in improving the quality of circulating water and reservoir management, as well as the oversight of irrigation uses, which are among the basin’s largest water consumers.
CHS recently conducted studies at the mouth of the Segura River in Guardamar. What did these studies entail?
The research aims to remove a portion of deposits accumulated over the years, restoring some hydraulic capacity. This work will improve drainage after floods and reduce flood-related damage in nearby areas. The activities include removing about 20,000 cubic meters of sediment and storing it in Segura river groves, with an investment near 300,000 euros.
Are there other actions planned for Vega Baja?
Indeed. Vega Baja will receive 43% of the 840 million euros planned in the PGRI for 2022-2027, equating to about 343 million euros for flood-reduction works. Environmentally sustainable nature-based solutions are also planned for this floodplain region, aimed at reducing flood vulnerability.
Alongside these works, PGRI also considers studies, plans, and projects totaling 80.3 million euros for Vega Baja. This includes highway permeabilization plans (N-332) and dams and water storage projects (Pilar de la Horadada-San Pedro del Pinatar), among others.
The remaining 107 million will be invested in heavy-rain prevention and annual measures such as canal maintenance, boulevard cleaning, and sediment removal.
In Pilar de la Horadada, residents and authorities discuss flood mitigation. Where is this project located?
During 2022, the action plan for that area was communicated to municipalities and affected neighbors to explain CHS actions. The lamination plan at the catchment head with weirs will reduce sediment transport, along with a controlled storage area (ZAC) in Phase I. Phase II envisions a green corridor linking the ZAC to the highway-adjacent area and channeling water to the Mediterranean. The administrative process is ongoing with work expected to begin in 2023.
How is district delegation handled in Orihuela?
The approach is very positive, focusing on close and personal service to expedite file handling, issue resolution, and suggestions.
Teams serving the offices include technicians, managers, and staff from the Segura Hydrographic Confederation River Nursing Home and Environmental Representatives. They address questions from citizens approaching various delegations, preventing unnecessary transfers to the central office in Murcia, where CHS is based and carries out its efforts.